Dangerous Cold Coming To DC, NoVa

If you think it's cold now, just wait until later in the week, as temperatures are expected to drop to dangerous levels in our area.

Plunging temperatures combined with high winds are expected to send temperatures down into the negative teens in the D.C. and Northern Virginia area around rush hour Friday morning, according to forecasts.

Weather.com projects that temperatures will hit a low of 5 degrees on Thursday and 3 degrees on Friday in the Reston area, and winds will be 24 and 22 miles per hour on those days, respectively.

It will also be cold on Saturday with lows in the single digits and highs in the teens before things start to warm up on Sunday.

Mike Thomas, a meteorologist with Fox 5, tweeted a graphic on Tuesday that shows expected wind chill temperatures on Friday at 7 a.m. He projects D.C. will see a wind chill of -16 degrees, as well as -17 at Dulles, -15 in Manassas, and -13 in Quantico. Out in Winchester, it's projected to hit a staggering -23 degrees.

Although still unsure about how snow could impact our region Thursday AM (we're still walking the razors edge here...update later today) one thing that is certain is there is serious cold coming our way on the other side of it. Wind chill values Friday AM at dangerous levels. pic.twitter.com/6MlnLB3b1i
— Mike Thomas (@MikeTFox5) January 2, 2018

So what about snow? Well, that's the big question right now. It seems like we're always on the very edge of some major storm, and that appears to be the case this time around with a system moving through Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.

Right now, the National Weather Service projects a 38 percent chance of measurable snow in D.C., with chances plummeting the farther west you go: 26% in Leesburg, 16% in Winchester. The I-95 corridor may very well be the dividing line in terms of where we'll see snow.

However, that could change, so stay tuned.

For the midweek system, its looking more likely we'll be on the western extent of the snow. Chances of measurable precipitation Wednesday night/Thursday AM currently range from less than 20% along the I-81 corridor to 30-50% along the I-95 corridor to around 70% in southeast MD. pic.twitter.com/8ASv4mW5ik
— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) January 2, 2018

Whether inside or outside, cold weather can be dangerous to those who are not prepared to properly handle it.

Advanced hypothermia (decreased core body temperature) can be accompanied by stiffness, excessive shivering, confusion, slurred speech, numbness or a weak pulse. Watch for changes in levels of consciousness and motor coordination, indicated by stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles.

Symptoms of frostbite (skin damage due to cold temperatures) include gradual numbness, pale or purple skin, hard (wooden) skin, or tingling or burning in the impacted area. Call 9-1-1 if you or someone you know may be suffering from hypothermia or frostbite.

Children, older adults, and individuals with poor circulatory systems are at particular risk for hypothermia or frostbite. The CDC offers these tips to help cope with winter conditions when outside:

• Layer your clothing to have more flexibility and control over how warm you stay. Avoid cotton clothing for winter activities.
• Prepare for the unexpected. Most hypothermia cases occur due to an unexpected change in the weather or temperature.
• Wear a warm hat; up to 50 percent of body heat is lost through the head.
• Avoid getting wet when the temperature dips.
• Wear waterproof boots or shoes to keep your feet dry.
• Drink plenty of water. Avoid nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol.

Also Watch: Severe Cold Continues To Assault Large Portions Of The US

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